For those of us with a palette for traditional and contemporary Scottish folk music, Alistair Ogilvy and Band are here with a special treat. The group perform a number of heart-warming old and new Scottish folk songs and musical compositions, leaving the audience mesmerised. Ogilvy has gained a sound reputation for his wonderfully melodic voice and engaging performances. In his own words, he has been singing since he was knee-high to a grasshopper. Such experience has led to more official recognition, claiming the title TMSA young traditional singer of merit and also becoming a finalist in the BBC Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2011. He is supported by an extremely talented band, comprising of Darcy Carson, singer and multi-instrumentalist; Louise Bichan, fiddler; and Ronald Jappy, guitarist and fiddler. Together the group give a brilliant performance, with a setlist including Robert Burns’ ‘Lassie Wi’ and musical pieces such as those composed by Harper O’Carolan, along with their own compositions. Although the group’s attempt to encourage audience participation was not entirely successful, there was no denying that the audiences were enjoying themselves. They might have had better luck, however, with a few more upbeat songs and a dance floor for some foot-tapping. The venue, Acoustic Music Centre @ St Brides, seems to fit well with the no-frills approach of the group. Although it does seem a bit out of the way from the city centre, if Scottish folk music is your cup of tea, or if you are simply looking for a bit of cultural experience, the effort is well worth it.
